Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) 2003 – 2004 Associate in Arts (AA) Degree, Special Requirements (SR) MCCCD Governing Board Date: March 28, 2003

The Maricopa County Community College District Associate in Arts Degree Special Requirements (AA SR) requires a total of 60-64 semester credits for the program of study. The degree has three major components; 1) General Education which includes the Arizona General Education Curriculum A (AGEC A) and MCCCD Additional Requirements, 2) Common Lower Division Program Requirements, 3) General Electives.
The degree is designed for students who plan to transfer to Arizona’s public universities into majors that articulate with the Associate in Arts Special Requirements pathway and for students who plan to complete lower division course work toward a baccalaureate program at other degree granting institutions. The AA SR is designed for students who know their major but have not decided on their university for transfer purposes. Additional information on academic majors at the Arizona public universities can be accessed via the following web site: http://www.abor.asu.edu/4_special_programs/atass/index.html Select:
*	Student information
*	Degrees and Pathways
*	Scroll to the bottom of the page
*	Select the letter of the major you are interested in
The degree transfers as a block without loss of credit to Arizona's public universities and other institutions with district-wide articulation agreements. All semester credits used to satisfy the MCCCD Associate in Arts Special Requirements degree will apply to university graduation requirements of the university major for which the AA SR was designed, regardless of whether the credit was awarded for completion of course work or for prior learning. For additional information on credit awarded for prior learning assessment, see the policy on Credit for Prior Learning in the general catalog.
The MCCCD Associate in Arts, Special Requirements:
*		requires 60-64 semester credits in courses numbered 100 and above to be completed with a grade of “C” or better;
*		uses the following policies to help students complete the required Core and Awareness Areas in AGEC A without exceeding the 35 semester credits;
		1.	Courses can satisfy a Core Area and one or two Awareness Areas simultaneously.
		2.	A course cannot be used to satisfy more than one Core Area requirement.
*		uses the following policy to help students complete the program requirements at a minimum of 60 semester credits but not more than 64 semester credits;
			Courses can satisfy multiple areas within the degree simultaneously (AGEC A Core Area, AGEC A Awareness Area, MCCCD Additional Requirements, Common Lower Division Program Requirements).
*		follows the general education policy below;
		General Education Designations (example: [FYC], [SB], [HU], etc.)
		Effective Fall 2000 the course evaluation and/or general education designation as listed in the Arizona Course Equivalency Guide (CEG) within the Arizona Course Applicability System (AZCAS) is valid for the term in which a student is awarded credit on the transcript. A course evaluation and/or general education designation may be subject to change. Given that curriculum is dynamic at both MCCCD and the institutions to which MCCCD students transfer, students have the option to petition for course evaluation and/or general education designations.
*		requires courses that transfer as equivalent courses, departmental elective credit (XXXXDEC), or general elective credit (Elective) at all Arizona public universities according to the Arizona Course Equivalency Guide (CEG) within the Arizona Course Applicability System (AZCAS). The course evaluation and/or general education designation as listed in AZCAS is valid for the term in which the student is awarded credit on the transcript;
*		follows the graduation policies within the general catalog.
*		includes both courses and their modular equivalents; either the course or the modular equivalents will satisfy the Associate in Arts Special Requirements.
*		accepts one of the courses that is cross-referenced with other courses;
*		provides for exemption from Arizona university admission requirements for students who complete the Associate of Arts degree from a regionally accredited post-secondary institution with a minimum 2.0 on a 4.0=A scale for Arizona residents and a minimum 2.5 on a 4.0=A scale for non-residents.
The 60-64 semester credits required for the Associate in Arts Special Requirements follow: See the list entitled MCCCD Courses That Can Be Used to Satisfy MCCCD AGEC A, AGEC B and/or AGEC S for specific course information via the following website: http://www.dist.maricopa.edu/academic/curric/ Select: * Program Information * Scroll down to Program/Sorting Reporting * Select the AGEC Course Matrix OR * Select the Current Academic Year * Select the desired General Education Designation The list identifies the courses in alpha-order by prefix as well as the different Core Areas and Awareness Areas where the course will apply. When selecting Mathematical Studies and Natural Sciences options, select from the appropriate AGEC A, B, or S list.

I.	MCCCD GENERAL EDUCATION				Credits
	The MCCCD General Education includes two areas, MCCCD AGEC A and MCCCD Additional Requirements.
	A.	MCCCD AGEC A
	1.	Core Areas:			35
		a.	First-Year Composition [FYC]		6
		b.	Literacy and Critical Inquiry [L]		3
		c.	Mathematical Studies [MA/CS]		6
			To complete the Mathematical Studies requirement select one course to satisfy the Mathematics [MA] A and a second course from either Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS].
			1)	Mathematics [MA] A (3 credits) Select a course in college mathematics or college algebra or pre-calculus or any other mathematics course for which college algebra is a prerequisite.
				AND
			2)	Computer/Statistics/Quantitative Applications [CS] (3 credits)
		d.	Humanities and Fine Arts [HU]		6
			Students are encouraged to choose course work from more than one discipline for a total of six (6) semester credits.
		e.	Social and Behavioral Sciences [SB]		6
			Students are encouraged to choose course work from more than one discipline for a total of six (6) semester credits.
		f.	Natural Sciences [SQ/SG]		8
			To complete the Natural Sciences requirement:
			Select four (4) semester credits of [SQ] and four (4) semester credits of [SG] for a total of eight (8) semester credits OR Select eight (8) semester credits of [SQ]. Students cannot take eight (8) semester credits of [SG] to meet the Natural Sciences requirement.
			The lecture course(s) selected for Natural Sciences must include or be accompanied by the corresponding laboratory course. The lecture and corresponding laboratory course(s) may carry separate credit. Students should consult with an advisor for appropriate course selection. Students should also access the CEG within the AZCAS for information on transfer equivalencies.
	2.	Awareness Areas:
		Students must satisfy two Awareness Areas: Cultural Diversity in the United States [C] and either Global Awareness [G] or Historical Awareness [H]. However, it is not necessary for students to exceed thirty-five semester credits to complete the Awareness Areas because courses can satisfy a Core Area and one or two Awareness Areas simultaneously. Therefore no additional semester credits are required to satisfy the two Awareness Areas.
		Cultural Diversity in the United States [C]
		AND
		Global Awareness [G]
		OR
		Historical Awareness [H]
	B.	MCCCD Additional Requirements			0-6
		Students must satisfy Oral Communication and Critical Reading areas for a total of six (6) semester credits. However, it is not necessary for students to exceed the thirty-five semester credits required in order to complete the MCCCD Additional Requirements because courses can satisfy a Core Area and MCCCD Additional Requirements simultaneously. Therefore no additional semester credits are required to satisfy Oral Communication and Critical Reading.
		1.	Oral Communication
			A total of three (3) semester credits is required for Oral Communication. However, if students select a communication course that satisfies both the Oral Communication area and an area within the Core, then the Oral Communication requirement has been satisfied and additional electives may be taken.
			Select from the following options:
			COM100 [SB] (3 credits) OR
			COM100AA & COM100AB & COM100AC [SB] (3 credits) OR
			COM110 [SB] (3 credits) OR
			COM110AA & COM110AB & COM110AC [SB] (3 credits) OR
			COM225 [L] (3 credits) OR
			COM230 [L][SB] (3 credits)
		2.	Critical Reading
			A total of three (3) semester credits is required for the Critical Reading area. However, if students select a critical reading course that satisfies both the Critical Reading area and an area within the Core, or if the students demonstrate proficiency through assessment, then the Critical Reading requirement has been satisfied and additional electives may be taken.
			CRE101 [L] OR equivalent as indicated by assessment
II.	Common Lower Division Program Requirements				6
	A minimum of six (6) semester credits are required for Common Lower Division Program Requirements.
	Students should refer to the Common Courses list for their chosen major and/or consult with an advisor to select courses from the Common Courses list. The list of Common Courses is accessible on the following web site: http://www.abor.asu.edu/4_special_programs/atass/index.html Select: * Student Information * Select Common Course Matrices
III.	General Electives				13-23
	A total of 13-23 semester credits are required for General Electives. Students may wish to select additional courses in consultation with an advisor to complete a minimum of 60 semester credits but no more than a total of 64 semester credits.
	For students who have decided on a major that articulates with the AA SR but are undecided on the university they will transfer to, courses satisfying the General Electives area should be selected from the list of Common Courses in order for the courses to apply in the major upon transfer. See advisor for list of Common Courses. Not all majors have Common Courses. The list of Common Courses is accessible on the following web site: http://www.abor.asu.edu/4_special_programs/atass/index.html Select: * Student Information * Select Common Course
	In some majors students must demonstrate 4th semester proficiency at the 202 course level to satisfy the Non-English Language Requirement or complete a maximum of 16 semester credits. However, if students select non-English language courses that satisfy multiple areas of the degree, or if students demonstrate proficiency, then the non-English Language Requirement has been satisfied and additional electives may be taken.
	Students must select courses that are acceptable as an equivalent course, departmental elective credit (XXXXDEC), or general elective credit (Elective) at all Arizona public universities according to the Arizona Course Equivalency Guide (CEG) within the Course Applicability System (AZCAS).
AA SR Total Credits:					60-64

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